STOCKTON - Nikki Armagost's legacy at Pacific is secure before she begins her senior season.

Armagost is one of the greatest players in the softball program's 35-year history as the Tigers prepare to open the 2013 season at Santa Clara on Feb. 9. Armagost is coming off of an All-American campaign as Pacific's top hitter (.433, 38 RBI, 35 runs) and ace (11-7, 2.29 ERA) and is the two-time defending Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Pacific coach Brian Kolze said all of that success speaks for itself, and he has talked with Armagost about how to approach her final season.

"She just has to be the best player she can be this year," Kolze said. "She'll have highs and lows like anyone else. What she can't try to do is do too much and add pressure. She just has to be the tremendous player she is."

Kolze said Armagost is driven on and off the field, as she completed her bachelor's degree last month and is now working on her masters in education this spring. Armagost is usually smiling and the Andover, Kan., native said it's for good reason.

"I've tried to have fun every time I play softball here because I'm living my dream," Armagost said.

Armagost set the statistical bar very high last season. Her .433 batting average was the second-best in program history and her 2.29 ERA led a deep staff that also included Tori Shepard and Dani Bonnet. Armagost said she has team-oriented goals for this season, but she doesn't dwell on what her statistics might be.

"I tend to lose myself if I set goals that involve numbers," Armagost said. "I'll just go about things like it's business as usual."

Business has been good the past two seasons for the Tigers, who went 37-19 with a Big West Conference championship in 2011 and finished 34-20 last year. Senior catcher Amy Moore said the team's goal remains to win another conference crown despite the losses of the graduating Nicole Matson and transferring Kelsey Rodriguez (to Arizona). Pacific has four seniors in Armagost, Moore, infielder Megan Allen and center fielder Megan Hom, and Kolze said all of them will have to take on an increased leadership role.

"I have been trying to take that role," Armagost said. "I'm not very vocal. I try to lead by example, but I'm willing to tell people how things need to get done. We want the underclassmen to learn the Pacific way of doing things."